What we do

We focus on transparency issues by profiling and investigating the activities of lobbying firms, lobbyists and corporate lobby groups. The relationship between special interests and elected representatives is catalogued in our MEPedia database. We also examine the 'revolving door' between politics and special interests.

Another focus is on communication, spin and propaganda in party politics and in war and peace. We also cover public interest reporting on many controversial issues such as the nuclear debate, climate change, water, alcohol, food, genetically modified food and crops, and the pharmaceutical industry. The database is a public interest resource that monitors and documents both positive and negative activities in relation to spin. We include pages on whistleblowers, on critics and victims of spin, on those whose work is spun by others, and those who are associated with PR – as well as on those who practice and promote spin. See our definition of 'spin'.

NuclearSpin

Our Nuclear Spin portal tracks the companies, people and organisations behind the campaign to build new nuclear power stations in the UK and worldwide. It provides information on who is influencing the debate about nuclear energy, and the techniques and tactics they use to persuade the public that we need more nuclear power.

Regional conflicts

MEPedia

MEPedia profiles current Members of the European Parliament, focusing on issues of transparency, conflict of interest and the revolving door. It is a resource for members of the public across Europe to find out basic information about selected MEPs, their financial and political interests, and their voting history and comments on issues related to transparency, accountability and conflicts of interest.

Getting Started

Looking for somewhere to start?

We welcome new contributors to Powerbase. To contribute, you first need to register as a User.

Send an email to melissa.jones AT Powerbase.info saying who you are and your interests. If you are approved as a User you will be sent a User name and password to enable you to log in and edit or contribute material.

If you are unsure where to start, you could expand some recently created but currently brief articles. Take a look at the recent changes page to see some noted as 'stubs' - articles that may just be a line or two and need to be fleshed out. So if you would like to add to some of those you would be most welcome.

There is an automatically updated page which includes pages which have been signalled by Powerbase Users as most wanted. There is also a page with a list of Things you can do to help.

Or if you would like some other suggestions closer to your interests, you could drop Powerbase's managing editor an email at melissa.jones AT Powerbase.info

Disclaimer: Powerbase is an encyclopedia of people, issues and groups shaping the public agenda. It is a project of the non-profit Public Interest Investigations—email melissa.jones AT Powerbase.info.

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